So what happens if Al Q manages a successful attack on CONUS

[MKSheppard]

About one week before the presidental turnover of power on January 20, 2009?

I know that we've been successful in blunting the Al Q attempts for the last six-seven years, but the S.O.B.s have to get lucky only once.

So lets say they manage to score a big hit somewhere in CONUS; we'll say 400~ dead or so.

What do Bush and the President-elect do?

Bush is only in office for what, another seven days, and whatever he does will have an effect on the incoming president's foreign policy, and for all the vitrol thrown his way, I just can't see Bush sabotaging an incoming president's foreign policy by announcing the invasion of some other place where the terrorists are staying and then handing the mess off to his successor.

[Xisiqomelir]

For a start, it means we can fire the head of the CIA.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

For a start, it means we can fire the head of the CIA.

Why?

No nation can have a 100% success rate in intelligence operations.

[Xisiqomelir]

For a start, it means we can fire the head of the CIA.

Why?

No nation can have a 100% success rate in intelligence operations.

Yes, but this like isn't having the exploding cigar box meant for Ahmadinejad blow up in some Uzbek safe house. It would be a huge embarrassment and the public would want heads to roll.

[Master of Ossus]

Yes, but this like isn't having the exploding cigar box meant for Ahmadinejad blow up in some Uzbek safe house. It would be a huge embarrassment and the public would want heads to roll.

Right. I mean, basically Americans have really unrealistic expectations about safety and intelligence, and they do assume that one event is indicative of some sort of systemic failure.

[Tanasinn]

How convenient, then, that the average American has been correct in that assumption in the last two major disasters (9/11, Katrina).

[mingo]

Wouldn't this situation be tailor made for Bush to pull out his "continuity of government" executive order and take permanent control? Wasn't that what it was written for, after all? Now if he really tried it I'd expect at best a quickee impeachment at worst a violent revolution, but he's done some really stupid shit, maybe he's dumb enough to do this.

[Hawkwings]

Yeah right. Bush isn't that stupid. He might try putting into place a long-term plan that will screw over the next president, or he may just sit on it and wait for the next person to handle it. Either way, he's out.

[Sidewinder]

I imagine the controversy of "Waterboarding is torture! The CIA and FBI must not use it on terror suspects!" will become "Waterboarding is an interrogation technique! The CIA and FBI must use it on terror suspects to prevent more terror attacks!" in the minds of a public still reeling from the effects of 9/11.

[Havok]

Wouldn't this situation be tailor made for Bush to pull out his "continuity of government" executive order and take permanent control? Wasn't that what it was written for, after all? Now if he really tried it I'd expect at best a quickee impeachment at worst a violent revolution, but he's done some really stupid shit, maybe he's dumb enough to do this.

You mean ala Palpatine? That would be insidious indeed.

I would be curious to see the response of congress and the military in this scenario. But, no, I don't think even Bush is that dumb.

[mingo]

Wouldn't this situation be tailor made for Bush to pull out his "continuity of government" executive order and take permanent control? Wasn't that what it was written for, after all? Now if he really tried it I'd expect at best a quickee impeachment at worst a violent revolution, but he's done some really stupid shit, maybe he's dumb enough to do this.

You mean ala Palpatine? That would be insidious indeed.

I would be curious to see the response of congress and the military in this scenario. But, no, I don't think even Bush is that dumb.

Yes, I agree it would be colossally stupid, but why did he write the damn thing, if not to use it to seize power?